Centrifugal mixing and atomizing device



Nov. 5, 1940. P; JEFFREY CENTRIFUGAL MIXING AND ATOMIZING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1938 Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES CENTRIFUGAL MIXING A'ND ATOMIZING. I DEVICE' Peter Jeffrey, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application August 12, 1938,. Serial No. 224,583

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal mixing and atomizing device, and the objects of the invention are; 1st, to promote positive top-cylinder lubrication, that is, the lubri- 5 cation of the valve stems, cylinder walls, and piston rings, the lubricant being obtained from the crank case, and which lubricant is at the present time exhausted from the crank case through the ventilator pipe; 2nd, to thoroughly mix the gasolene vapor from a fuel tank with the lubricant recovered from the crank case (and sometimes gasolene vapors also from said crank case) and evenly distribute these mixed elements into all of the cylinders so that these latter will develop therethrough uniform power, thus promoting smooth performance of the motor; 3rd, to'provide automatic means to prevent any back pressure reaching the fuel tank and thus remove any danger of explosion, and 4th, to design a particular form of centrifugal mixer and oil atomizer.

Among the advantages flowing from this invention are a saving in gas and oil consumption; minimizing to a very high degree deposits of carbon in the engine cylinders; an increase in power output since the incoming oil-charged explosive mixture lubricating the cylinder walls increases the compression Within the cylinders since the said lubricant prevents any escape between the rings and the walls of thecylinder. Owing to'the thorough top-cylinder lubrication, the resultant smooth performance of the motor makes for longer life of the power plant.

The centrifugal mixing and atomizing device is adapted to be interposed in the fuel line at any convenient point between the carburetor and the intake manifold and although it is preferred to pass the oil recovered from the crank case and the vapors recovered from the fuel tank into a common feed line leading to the centrifugal 40 mixer and atomizer, it must be understood that distinct fuel lines for the said oil and vapors may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention. It must also be understood that it is within the scope of this invention to use singly the recovered oil or the recovered gasolene vapors.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, diagrammatic in character, of an internal combustion engine, illustrating the preferred manner of supplying the oil and gasolene vapors. to the induction pipe of the engine. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section, through portions of the induction pipe, showing the centrifugal mixer and atomizer associated therewith, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the underside of the centrifugal mixer showing diagrammatically conduits fed from a common supply for introducingthe vapors and/or vapors and oil tangentially into the mixer.

In the drawing, like characters of reference refer to the same parts.

It iscommon inthe art to'deliver oil-laden air from the engine crank case and gasolene vapor from the fuel tank to the cylinders, but as far it is known it is not the common practice to pass oil and gasolene vapors from the sources mentioned into a common conduit leading to a mixing device in communication with the induction pipe. It'is essential that top-cylinder lubrication beeincient, and from long and thorough experiments, it has been proven that lubrication in the area mentioned can only be thoroughly effected if-the lubricant be thoroughly atomized prior to its passage into the cylinders together with: the explosive charge.

Smooth performance of a motor can only be obtained Where each cylinder obtain-s the same amount of explosive charge. To insure the proper charge passing simultaneously into each cylinder it is essential that the gasolene vapors recovered from the crank case and the fuel tank, or from either of. these sources separately, must be thoroughl'y mixed as they pass through the induction pipe so that the resulting explosive mixture will be thoroughly homogeneous before it passes into the intake manifold for distribution into the cylinders. Mixture of this character will insure smooth performance from the engine.- And when with this'homogeneous fuel supply if an atomized volume of oil be passed into the cylinders, then top-cylinder lubrication will be efficiently effected.

The homogeneous character of the explosive mixture as it: passes through the induction pipe can only be'obtained by introducing the mixed gasolene: and. oil vapors, or either of these substances alone, tangentially into said induction pipe 50 that the rotary motions givenastreams of these substances result in the thorough mixing thereof with the explosive'charge. When globules of oil are passed into the centrifugal mixer and adhere to the walls thereof, when same move into the onrushing stream of the explosive mixture (throughgravity in the preferred form of device) they are violently brought into contact with a fora-minous or screen element of sufficient fineness to effectively atomize same. The result is that each charge passed into the cylinders will have a uniform percentage of lubricant.

Obviously the proportions of the conduits collecting the oil and vapors and introducing same into the centrifugal mixer will be of the proper relative proportions so that they will deliver the required amounts of these substances in accordance with the displacement of the engine.

2 is the cylinder head, 3 the exhaust manifold, 4 the exhaust pipe, 5 the crank case, 6 the induction pipe, and I the intake manifold. Located at any convenient point between the carburetor (not shown) and the intake manifold I, is a centrifugal mixer 8. This mixer is preferably located between the flange 9 of the induction pipe 6 and the flange II] of the intake manifold I. The said mixer is pierced to receive the bolts I I which also pass through the said flanges 9 and I0. As shown in Fig. 2, the said bolts clamp the centrifugal mixer 8 permanently in position between the flanges 9 and I0. As shown clearly in said figure, the mixer 8 is provided with a central passageway therethrough in alignment with the passageways through the induction pipe 6 and the intake manifold I, and the walls of this passageway are suitably recessed to form a shielded circular channel opening freely into said central passageway. In the form of the device shown, this passageway is stepped in formation, that is to say, the upper portion I2 therof is of smaller diameter than the lower portion I3, and it will be noticed that this lower portion I3 extends above the bottom edge I4 of the portion I2 thus forming a shielded channel I5 between the lower portion of said upper portion I2 and the upper portion of the lower portion I3. The upper wall I6 of said channel preferably flares outwardlythus giving the said channel I5, in cross section, substantially a V-shaped formation. Formed in the walls of the centrifugal mixer 8 are passageways H which open tangentially into the channel I5. I8 are a plurality of conduits with their discharge ends held in the centrifugal mixer 8 and each communicating with its passageway I'I. These conduits are fed from a common conduit I9. 20 is the crank-case ventilator-outlet pipe, and communicating therewith is a conduit 2I which is carried by a coupling 22 to which is coupled the conduit I9. 23 is a conduit communicating with the coupling 22 and opening into the top portion of the gasolene tank indicated by the common numeral of reference 24. As shown in the drawing, the induction pipe 6 is intended to receive simultaneously oil and gasolene from the crank case and the fuel tank, respectively. However, it is within the scope of this invention to collect the said oil and vapors separately from the source indicated, if desired. When the explosive mixture is drawn from the carburetor (not shown) through the induction pipe 6 into the intake manifold l, and through the centrifugal mixer 8, the oil and/ or gasolene vapors are drawn through the passageways II tangentially into the channel I5. The rapid rotary motion given to the said substances will result in the thorough mixing thereof with the explosive charge by the time it is passed into the cylinders.

Where oil is recovered from the crank case and passed through the conduit l9, in case any oil should collect in the form of drops on the wall It, it will be carried by gravity to the edge I 4, and in this location will be directly in the path of movement of the incoming charge of explosive mixture. This incoming charge will act as a vehicle and carry the oil drops or globules forcibly against the foraminous or screen member 25 and thus cause the atomization of the same. The foraminous or screen member 25 is located between the centrifugal mixer B and the flange I0, as shown in Fig. 2.

The shape of the channel I5 allows for the expansion of the vapors swirling around therein as they approach the bottom edge I4 with the result that they pass into the incoming charge without having any injurious effect. It has sometimes heretofore been the practice of introducing these recovered vapors into the charge flowing through the induction pipe directly across the flow thereof. This manner of introducing the Vapors renders it quite impossible to get a complete mixture thereof with the incoming charge. Now by providing for the expansion of the swirling vapors by the time they pass out of the channel I5 they will be introduced into the incoming charge longitudinally thereof and not across the flow thereof.

To prevent explosions occurring in the fuel tank 24, any suitable check valve 25 is located in the fuel line intermediate the fuel tank and the induction pipe 6. In the drawing, this check valve, known as a ball valve, is located in the conduit 23.

Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing represent the centrifugal mixer 8 in actual size used in experimental work in connection with the engines used in Chrysler models #77 and C. O.

The proportions of the conduits used in the experimental work with the engines of the models of the motor cars mentioned are as follows: diameter of the conduits I 9 and 23 /ic; diameter of the conduits I8 diameter of the passageways I'I- of an inch.

The diameter of the upper portion I2 of the passageway through the centrifugal mixer 8 in the model used in connection with the conduits mentioned is 1 and inches, and the diameter of the bottom portion of said passageway in the same model is 1 and inches. The width of the bottom of the passageway I5 of said model is approximately of an inch, and the depth of this passageway is approximately While the above dimensions have been set forth, it must be understood that they are not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention.

The mesh of the foraminous element 25 used in experimental work is the same as that of the screens used in the gasolene supply line on many makes of cars.

Another advantage possessed by this invention is the simplicity of construction of the centrifugal mixer 8. This device is so constructed that the inflowing vapors and/or oil have no chance to undergo a lag in speed of flow, and the result is that the vigor of flow thereof into and around the passageway I5 is not reduced below that of the conduits I8 and passageways II. Therefore when the parts are properly proportioned to the displacement of the engine, positive and instant supply of the recovered vapors and oil is had.

Another advantage flowing from simplicity of construction is the fact that the passageway I5 will be kept clean since the contents thereof will be rapidly carried away by the incoming charge flowing through the induction pipe 5 on its way to the intake manifold 'I.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that should the invention be made standard equipment, the centrifugal mixer 8 can be formed integrally with the flange-provided end of an induction pipe where it is associated with the flange of the intake manifold.

Although it is preferred to use four passageways I I, the scope of the invention is not limited to any particular number of these passageways.

As shown clearly in Fig. 2, the walls of the upper portion I2 of the passageway through the centrifugal mixer 8 overhang or overlap the channel l5, thus shielding said channel to permit of the rotary or swirling movement of the recovered vapors before the same pass into the stream of the incoming charge.

The scope of the appended claims is not to be limited to the precise construction herein shown and described of the centrifugal mixer 8, nor of the conduits used to supply the vapors and/or oil thereto.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. The combination with an induction pipe, and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, of a device located between said pipe and manifold and having a central passageway therethrough the portion thereof on the intake-manifold side having a greater diameter than the portion on the carburetor side, and further a shallow annular shielded channel formed at the junction of said passageway-portions freely opening into said passageway, said device further provided with at least one passageway opening tangentially into said annular channel at the top or closed end thereof and through which vapor is vigorously passed into said channel to acquire therein a rotary movement not appreciably retarded through frictional contact with the Walls of said shallow channel below that of the vapor passing initially from said passageway so that the vapor will retain most of its vigor when passing into the intake manifold to be thoroughly mixed with the incoming charge, and a foraminous element interposed between said device and said intake manifold and spanning the passageway therethrough.

2. The combination with an induction pipe, and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, of a device located between said pipe and manifold and having a central passageway therethrough, the portion thereof on the intake-manifold side having a greater diameter than the portion on the carburetor side, and

further a shallow shielded channel formed at the junction of said passageway-portions freely opening into said passageway, said device further provided with at least one passageway opening tangentially into said annular channel; a conduit discharging into said second-mentioned passageway of greater diameter than the same; a conduit discharging into said first conduit of greater diameter than the same and leading to the fueltank of the engine, and a valve-controlled conduit opening from the crank-case of the engine and communicating with the conduit opening into the fuel-tank.

PETER JEFFREY. 

